Role of Social Bathing in Classical Rome

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Mare Nostrum The Role of Social Bathing in Classical Rome by P.D. and S.N.		Introduction Public baths fulfilled many of the needs and desires of Roman citizens in classical times and were the center of Roman social life. These extravagant structures were places where one could relax, enjoy art, discuss politics, and converse with others about the issues of the day. These great "palaces of entertainment served all tastes and admitted almost anyone," both rich and poor (Payne 232).
		Roman Bathers by S. N.
		Background Information In early Roman history, bathing was done every nine days and was not seen as a priority. During the 2nd century BCE, however, the Greek custom of regular bathing reached Rome (Mertz 357). It gradually became a daily practice for Roman citizens, regardless of their financial standing, to frequent public baths. Small bathhouses called balneae opened up throughout the empire. The balneae were privately owned baths, accessible to the public for a small fee. Later came the majestic and renown thermae. These large bathhouses were owned by the state and sometimes covered several city blocks. Funding for the building and upkeep of the public baths was expected of the wealthy (Menen 201).
Woman exercising in the palaestrae by S. N.t		Women of the Baths Men and women bathing together was discouraged. Thus, women either had separate bathing facilities, or, more commonly, had different bathing hours. However, public bathing for women was viewed as rather “middle class,” since the wealthy, aristocratic women owned private steam baths and were waited upon by their own personal slaves (Menen 197).
		Costs of Admission Even though women had the worst bathing hours (morning till noon), they still had to pay twice the amount as males to enter the public baths. 1/4 of an as (a copper coin worth roughly half a cent) for men 1/2 an as for women no charge for children These prices were quite reasonable if one was a free citizen (Carcopino 254). Hours he exact hours of the baths opening in the morning and closing at night are not clearly known and are much debated upon. However, it is known that the opening was announced by the ringing of the bath bell. Though, patrons were allowed to enter the exercise grounds before this bell was sounded (Payne 221). The bathing process was lengthy, usually lasting several hours. After patrons were done exercising and bathing, they departed for home to dine, planning to return the next day (Grimal 333). Physical Structure of the Roman Baths The baths were divided into two main sections: palaestra- exercised the body thermae- cleansed the body The bath proper was located in the center of the whole complex and was surrounded by shops. The hypocaust system was used to heat the baths and rooms: floors of the baths were built atop concrete or brick pillars walls contained hollow spaces within them Slaves attended the praefurnium, or furnace located below the baths. The hot air produced from its fire circulated throughout the empty spaces underneath the floors and in between the walls, thus thoroughly heating the rooms and bathing water The degree of warmth of the thermae pools depended upon how close the pool was in relation to the furnace. For example, the caldarium, or hot bath, was directly above the furnace, while the frigidarium, or cold bath, was the farthest from it.
		Bathers would lay back and relax for hours by P. D.
		Intricate aqueducts and springs supplied the thermae with water. This water flowed into the thermae clean and free of disease (251). The entrances to the thermae were narrow to control the thousands of people endeavoring to get in. The high vaulted thermae rooms were well lighted, airy, and highly decorated. Marble lined the pools, dressed the walls, and made up beautiful, towering colonnades. Elaborate and complicated mosaics decorated the floors of the various rooms. Gold gilding, colored marble panels, and silver faucets and fittings further enhanced the splender of these baths (Davis 128). Additional structures characteristic of the Roman thermae were the large public latrines. They contained marble seats positioned above water channels. In front of the seats was located a smaller channel. Here, sponges attached to small sticks were provided for the use of wiping oneself. Both channels had a continuous flow of water, thus “flushing” unclean waste away (McManus). Additionally, small, decorated balconies were provided for those patrons wishing to sunbathe, and huge unroofed courtyards allowed various ball playing. Rooms of the Baths *apodylerium- dressing room where storage space was provided for patrons to place their clothing and other possessions while bathing. Slaves were provided to guard these belongings and to carry one’s personal towels, oil flask, and strigil*, a curved metal body scraper (Menen 191).
		Servants scraping oil and sweat off the bodies of bathers by P.D.
		*unctorium- room where bathers' bodies were rubbed down with oil sudatorium- a dry, sauna-like bath (also known as the raconicium) which induced heavy perspiration with dry, heated air. Afterwards, bathers would scrape their bodies with strigils* (Grimal 337). *caldarium-extremely hot and steamy room with a labrum, a waist-high bronze basin located in the middle of the room, and individual bathing boxes along the perimeter. Special wooden sandals were provided to the bathers to protect their feet from the extreme heat of the floor (Payne 229). tepidarium- contained a warm bath frigidarium-a colder room which contained a plunge pool where bathers could cool off, wash off sweat, and close their pores Additional thermae* rooms provided oil massages by bath attendants. Wealthier bathers could enjoy massages of perfumed oils with woolen napkins of the finest quality (Menen 200). Passage from one room to the next could be a very slow process. Therefore, bathers would often stop by vendors to nibble on rich delicacies while waiting (Grimal 337).
		Men working out in the open court by S.N. The Palaestrae Made up of large gymnasiums, unroofed yards, and other grounds. Open space was abundant here, allowing a large variety of activities to be performed. Some of these included: running a game of rolling a medal hoop called a trochus a sophisticated variation of basketball racquetball tennis hop-ball boxing handball bladder ball wrestling weightlifting (which women rarely participated in) swinging (haltera) swimming in an outside pool (Mertz 356)
		In the palastrae there were all kinds of shops where an individual could purchase various items. As one patron noted, “[There was] no need for hunger because [a] restaurant [was]” always close by (Davis 367). Furthermore, the palastrae were full of trees and walkways where patrons could take evening strolls. Others went to the libraries to study, museums to view exhibits of art and science, the bath theater to see a performance, the park to listen to literary recitations, art galleries, or exhibition halls. One might settle down in a sitting room, lounge, or bar. Even such activities as gambling and board games were provided for the less active bath goers (Carcopino 267).
Bathers found thier own ways to relax within the baths by S. N.		Impact of the Public Baths For the first time, various relaxational and leisure activities were conveniently located under one roof. One obvious result was a rise in the importance of cleanliness of Roman society as a whole. Citizens from across the empire could now practice good hygiene on a regular basis. This privilege of leisurely bathing and pampering oneself was available to not only the wealthy and upper class, but to the poor as well (Grimal 340). In addition, public baths promoted the bodily health and fitness of patrons. The public baths provided large gymnasiums, open courts, and exercise equipment at the disposal and use of the bath goers. Also, the thermae promoted the desire of seeking an education amongst Roman citizens. Poor citizens were exposed to culture, which they could not have experienced elsewhere due to expenses. In the thermae, the knowledge of the world was accessible through the various libraries and captivating museum exhibits (Carcopino 269).
		Philosophers of the baths by P. D.
		Local Account of Roman Baths Due to all of the busy activities, public baths often got quite noisy. Seneca, a Roman citizen who happened to live next to one of these public baths, commented on the degree of noisiness: Imagine all these kinds of voices . . . While the sporting types take exercise with dumb-bells, either working hard or pretending to do so, I hear groans; every time they release the breath they have been holding, I hear sibilant and jarring respiration. When I meet some idle fellow content with a cheap massage, I hear the smack of a hand on the shoulders, and, according to if it is open or closed when it strikes, it gives a different sound. If a ball-player appears on the scene and begins to count the scores, I’m finished! Suppose there is also some brawler, and a thief caught in the act, and a man who likes the sound of his own voice while taking his bath. Then there are the bathers who leap into the pool, making a mighty splash. But all these people at least have a natural voice. Just imagine the shrill and strident cries of the attendants who pluck the hair from the bathers’ bodies, who never cease their noise except when they are plucking the hair from somebody’s armpits and making another scream instead of themselves. Then there are various cries of the pastry cooks, the sausage-sellers, and all the hawkers from the cook-shops, who advertise their wares with a sing-song all their own (qtd in Stobart 337). Political Aspects of the Roman Baths Many used their time in the baths to get together and discuss politics. One might discuss anything from candidates of an upcoming council election to new land laws. Public baths were places where emperors could come to gain public support and the interest of the commoners. Politicians, as well as others interested in governmental procedures, would go the public halls of the baths to debate on the relevancy of different laws and to criticize the tactics of other politicians. In these public halls, pressing issues of the day were discussed, rulers were plotted against, and war and peace were debated. This was also the place where unknown politicians would go to gain fame and to take note on the various political tactics of their elders. Problems of the Roman society were also discussed and improvements were contemplated upon (Stobart 263). As one can see, the Roman thermae were not always places to leave the world behind. On the contrary, many times it was brought to the forefront.
Minstrels playing music by P. D.		Additional Reasons for attending Roman Baths to relax by taking a bath and receiving a massage amateur poets came and persistently recited their creations in the hopes of receiving dinner invitations Musicians, minstrels, acrobats, and jugglers came seeking personal fame (Carcopino 272) prostitutes came seeking business amongst the many potential customers of the baths Getting drunk was another (though quite unrespectable) reason for attending public baths individuals who were obsessed with social standing utilized the thermae as places where they could see and be seen by top society others came to chat and spread gossip (Davis 140) men and women came from all over to engage in their favorite sports or exercises some just admired and took note of the magnificent architecture, statues, and paintings within the thermae some came to hear philosophers and their ideas on life, god(s), and other moral issues Still others simply came for the task of cleaning themselves. Conclusion To conclude, public baths enabled Roman citizens of classical times to develop good hygiene, physical fitness, and culture. Resembling modern day spas and healthclubs, the thermae housed a multiplicity of diverse activities. With their inexpensive admission costs, Roman citizens both rich and poor could bathe side by side in luxury. The thermae of Rome marked an alliance between physical culture and intellectual curosity. As one bather commented, “baths, wine, and women corrupt our bodies . . . but these things make life itself” (Carcopino 263).
		Works Cited Carcopino, Jerome. Daily Life in Ancient Rome. New Haven: Yale UP, 1940. Davis, William. *A Day in Old Rome. New York: Biblio, 1972. Grimal, Pierre. The Civilization of Rome. New York: Simon, 1963. McManus, Barbara. “Roman Baths and Bathing.” Roman Baths. June 1999. Online. 21 Oct. 1999. Menen, Aubrey. Cities in the Sand. New York: Dial, 1973. Mertz, Barbara and Richard Mertz. Two Thousand Years in Rome. New York: Coward, 1968. Payne, Robert. Ancient Rome. New York: American Heritage, 1970. Stobart, J. C. The Grandeur that was Rome. New York: Praeger, 1961. History and Thought of Western Man* Rich East High School * Park Forest, IL 60466 This page was created by P.D. and S.N. Last revised 5/11/00. \| The Greeks \| The Romans \| Other Civilizations \| Index \|